There are plenty of options for delicious vegan snacks when your stomach starts growling. Whether you need to eat on the road or at home, nuts and seeds provide essential nutrients and protein that make each bite more fulfilling. So why are pistachios so expensive compared to the other options in the snack aisles of your grocery store?
Read about the popular snack to learn why they cost more than alternatives like peanuts or almonds. You can better plan your grocery shopping and save some money when it’s time to check out.
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Why are pistachios so expensive?
Pistachios are expensive because they are in high demand and require primarily human labor to ensure an undamaged harvest, per the American Pistachio Growers. The shells fall away from the green tree nut easily, so machines shaking the pistachio trees easily damage the falling nuts. Human labor costs more than machine labor, per research from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Machines also take a backseat during sorting. Sorting eliminates items like leaves, bugs, and twigs from a harvest. People need to do this by hand to avoid the damage caused by machines that would otherwise move pistachios at high speeds through machinery.
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The tree nuts also utilize lots of water. According to The Gainesville Sun, they require 1.1 gallons of water per pistachio. Farms will pay a higher water bill to produce pistachios, leading to higher price points at the grocery store.
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Try these nuts similar to pistachios to save a few dollars.
Almonds are an excellent alternative to pistachios if you want to save money. They cost a record low of $1.10 per pound, as noted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Resource Service. Rocky Mountain IV Medics also notes that almonds include glutathione, which reduces muscle inflammation and improves muscle recovery after workouts.
Peanuts provide a slightly different nutty flavor you can enjoy alongside pistachios and almonds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that peanuts cost an average of 22.3 cents per pound and have been in a long-term downward pricing trend. The nutritious nut includes protein, fiber, fatty acids, and numerous minerals, according to research in Nutritional Epidemiology.
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Cashews are another alternative if you want to save money or take a break from pistachios. Like pistachios, cashews contain fiber, fats, protein, and iron, as noted in Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention. Statista found they average $11.20 per pound, although many manufacturers sell cashew snack products in smaller, more budget-friendly packages.
Enjoy a healthy and affordable snack.
Pistachios are a tasty treat, but you can add other nuts to your diet if they’re too costly. Consider swapping the occasional pistachio snack with almonds, cashews, or peanuts. You’ll get roughly the same amount of proteins, vitamins, and minerals while saving money.
Almonds have a similar texture and flavour to pistachios, making them a great substitute in recipes or as a snack. For those with allergies or dietary restrictions, sunflower seeds make an excellent substitute for pistachios.
In the United States, pistachios are processed and harvested using machines. However, to run those machines, skilled labor is required. Each pistachio that is picked will have to be hand sorted. This is the last and most expensive quality-control step of the production.
Unshelled vs shelled pistachio: Cost-effectiveness
For example, every 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of in-shell pistachios yields 48 to 50 grams of pistachio kernels. And that charges you $1 for every 1.5 ounces of pistachio. Shelled pistachios are less costly than in-shell pistachios.
There really is no other nut like them. Whether you're a fan of pistachios or not, if you've ever purchased them, you've probably wondered about the price. Pistachios come in at a higher price point than nuts like almonds or peanuts. There's not only one good reason for it, but several.
The disappearance of red-dyed pistachios can be directly traced to the growth of domestic pistachio production in the United States. Before the 1970s, pistachios were imported from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to the United States.
Consumption of pistachios in excess can increase the risk of gout due to the presence of purine. Roasted pistachios contain acrylamide which can have a noxious effect on the nervous system. When eaten in excess, pistachios can impair the digestion process and cause constipation.
When selecting pistachio nuts in their shells, always look for nuts that are split open at one end. If the pistachios you are buying are wholly shut, then aside from being difficult to open, this could be a sign of immaturity, and the nut within may be bitter and bland.
The natural crack provides an opening for salt to enter the shell. This eliminates the shelling process that other nuts have to undergo prior to roasting. There is another theory regarding the reason these nuts are sold in their shell. Some say they are sold in the shell to slow down the eating process.
And even though they have health benefits, it's always a good idea not to overdo it. About a handful (1.5 ounces) is a good amount to shoot for each day. If you're concerned about limiting your pistachio intake, go for the kind that have shells on them instead of the pre-shelled ones.
Brazil nuts, cashews and macadamia nuts are higher in saturated fat. Too much of this can contribute to raised cholesterol levels, so only eat them occasionally. Chestnuts are an exception – they're lower in all types of fats and higher in starchy carbohydrate than other nuts.
Macademia nuts, that are said to be world's most expensive nuts come with an array of benefits. Renowned Nutritionist Kavita Devgan elaborates on the health benefits of macadamia nuts, shedding light on their potential to enhance our vitality and contribute to a balanced lifestyle.
If you don't have pecans, in most recipes walnuts are interchangeable in equal measure, although cooks should keep in mind that pecans have a more delicate flavor. You can also try substituting peanuts, pistachios, cashews, and macadamia nuts for chopped pecans.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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